Advocacy
Menu
Menu
Fin WA Advocates are experienced professionals who provide one-to-one support and information to parents and families who are involved with child protection. Fin WA is committed to helping families navigate the child protection system so they can participate with more information, knowledge and confidence.
We hope that our work with parents will lead to more effective communication between parents and departmental workers, and assist parents to be hopeful, child focused and maintain meaningful connection with their children.
Fin WA Advocates can attend meetings with parents including:
Fin WA Advocates can also:
Due to the high level of demand on our service, there may be times when Fin WA Advocates provide information and support over the phone, including directing families to the information on our website, and other appropriate services. We may also be able to link you with a Family Partner (Peer Worker).
Fin WA Advocates usually work closely with a family for a period of 3 months. During this time they work together to identify the most important and purposeful elements of the child protection system that can be addressed together.
Fin WA has a community and systems advocacy focus. As part of Fin WA’s work in systemic advocacy, we work with parents, families and stakeholder groups to inform decision makers about the need for respectful inclusion for families at all points in the child protection system; from prevention and early intervention to out of home care.
Around 80% of substantiated child harm in Australia is concerned with psychological harm or neglect. These are associated with family violence, poverty, homelessness, parental ill health, and other social and public health issues. They are rarely the result of parental deficits alone.
Recognising this context, Fin WA seeks to address the structural barriers that impact families coming to the attention of child protection interventions. As part of Fin WA’s systemic advocacy approach, we work with parents, families and stakeholder groups to inform decision makers about the need for respectful inclusion for families at all points in the child protection system; from prevention and early intervention to out of home care.
It is increasingly recognised that families need to participate in child protection practice and processes if intervention to keep children safe is to succeed. Peer advocacy and parent leadership is emerging internationally as a practice and policy strategy that addresses power imbalances and underlying causes while also improving the relational focus in child protection agencies.
Some of the ways we utilise the lived experience voice to inform and influence system change include:
Fin WA has a community and systems advocacy focus. As part of Fin WA’s work in systemic advocacy, we work with parents, families and stakeholder groups to inform decision makers about the need for respectful inclusion for families at all points in the child protection system; from prevention and early intervention to out of home care.
Around 80% of substantiated child harm in Australia is concerned with psychological harm or neglect. These are associated with family violence, poverty, homelessness, parental ill health, and other social and public health issues. They are rarely the result of parental deficits alone.
Recognising this context, Fin WA seeks to address the structural barriers that impact families coming to the attention of child protection interventions.
As part of Fin WA’s systemic advocacy approach, we work with parents, families and stakeholder groups to inform decision makers about the need for respectful inclusion for families at all points in the child protection system; from prevention and early intervention to out of home care.
It is increasingly recognised that families need to participate in child protection practice and processes if intervention to keep children safe is to succeed. Peer advocacy and parent leadership is emerging internationally as a practice and policy strategy that addresses power imbalances and underlying causes while also improving the relational focus in child protection agencies.
Some of the ways we utilise the lived experience voice to inform and influence system change include: